Well another marathon completed and only 4.5 months since my ACL reconstruction. Race day was warm and humid. Temp started at 65 and went up to mid 70's. Humidity was 92%. By mile 17 the humidity took its toll on me. I was running with the 5 hr pace group until that point, but I had to slow down and take more walk breaks after mile 17. Still I was on pace for probably a 5 hr 5min finish. Then at mile 24, I saw a down runner and people calling for a doctor. I ran over to the collapsed runner and immediately started to provide first aid. There were 2 other runners with a medical background who had stopped to provide assistance. It turns out one was also an Anesthesiologist like myself and the other a OB nurse. Fortunately the collapsed runner had a pulse and was breathing. Unfortunately there was a pool of blood on the asphalt surrounding his head. Blood was coming out of his Left eardrum. That's bad news. I knew that he probably fractured his skull and possibly an intracranial bleed. We checked his pupils and they appeared to be equal. A bystander attempted to call family members while we waited for the paramedics. I put the runner's jacket under his head and tried to tamponade the bleeding. By this time the collapsed runner was starting to moan and was moving his extremities. We tried to ask him questions, but he was not coherent. I encouraged him to take deep breaths, stay still, and told him the ambulance was on its way.
It always seems to take forever the waiting... Finally the paramedics arrived, we gave them our report of what happened. Then the three of us who had stopped to provide first aid continued our marathon. I felt an adrenaline rush and ran the last 2 miles with renewed vigor. As I approached the finish, the cheering crowds, the "Go Team" chants from the Team in Training coaches and supporters inspired me across the finish line.
I finished in 5hr 12m 57sec
